George W. McGary, a veteran of the Civil War and a well-known resident of
Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is engaged in agricultural
pursuits. He was born on his present farm May 15, 1837, and is a son of John and
Margaret (Wallace) McGary, and a grandson of Robert McGary.

Robert McGary was born in Virginia, and at an early day located on a farm of
200 acres which he purchased in Neshannock Township, Lawrence County,
Pennsylvania. He was one of the first settlers of the vicinity, erected a log
house and set about clearing his land. He lived there until his death. He was a
soldier in the army during the War of 1812. His wife's maiden name was Dix.

John McGary, father of George W., was born on the home place in Neshannock
Township, July 8, 1803, attended such schools as the community afforded in those
pioneer days and aided in clearing the farm. He followed farming on that place
throughout his entire life. He was a Democrat in politics and served as
constable some years. He was united in marriage with Margaret Wallace, who was
born in Plain Grove, and was a daughter of Robert Wallace. They became parents
of twelve children, eleven of whom grew up, namely: Elizabeth, widow of James
Glenn, lives on the farm settled by her grandfather; Lowry, deceased; Samuel,
who on April 20, 1908, celebrated his Golden Wedding anniversary, an event which
was attended by more than 150 congratulating friends; Mary, widow of Hugh
Thompson, lives in Iowa; George W.; Nancy, who taught school many years and now
resides in Chicago; Jule, wife of Thomas Chapin, of Neshannock Township;
Rebecca; Maria, who lives with the subject of this sketch; James, of Nebraska,
and Virginia, wife of Wylie Gibson, of Nebraska, are twins; and Margaret, the
youngest of the family, died at the age of eighteen months. Mr. McGary died in
1875. He was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church, to which his
wife also belonged.

George W. McGary was reared on the old home place and lived there until the
Civil War. He enlisted in 1862 as a member of Company H, One Hundred and
Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served nine months. He then
re-enlisted for a term of three years as a member of Company H, One Hundredth
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was in many important engagements of the
war, and was taken prisoner at Cold Harbor. He was incarcerated in Libby Prison
at Richmond for six months and ten days, and then in Andersonville. After
receiving an honorable discharge from the army he went out West for nine years,
and then returned home and resumed farming operations. He is a man of energy and
ability and has been more than ordinarily successful. He has ninety-seven acres,
nearly all of which are under a high state of cultivation, and in 1885 he
erected a fine residence of eight rooms, modern in all its appointments and
improvements. Politically, he is a Democrat. He is a man of the highest type of
citizenship, enterprising and progressive, and stands high in the esteem of his
fellow men.